Saturday, June 2, 2012

Pregnancy Week 4 Development: What To Expect And One Beneficial Food

What Is Happening Inside the Body
By this time, the journey of the zygote from the fallopian tube to
the uterus should have been completed. On the fourth week, the uterus
begins to thicken and it continues until the 4th month of your
pregnancy. The zygote settles into the uterine lining and divides into
two. The first half becomes the embryo and the second half forms a
placenta which serves as the baby's lifeline until the delivery.
During
this period, the embryo begins to develop. The inner layer develops
into the baby's liver, lungs and the digestive system. This layer is
known as the endoderm. Also known as the mesoderm, the second layer
develops into the baby's kidneys, sex organ, bones, muscles and heart.
On the other hand, the outer layer, which is known as ectoderm, forms
into the baby's nervous system as well as the eyes, hair, skin. The
growth and development of the organs at this stage is impressively
rapid.
What Should You Expect During This Period
By this time, the signs and symptoms of pregnancy of your pregnancy
might have become more evident. Just like the major changes taking place
inside the body, you should also anticipate some changes outside the
body. You may begin experiencing some PMS like symptoms. You probably
have complained about dizziness, light-headedness, abdominal cramps,
pains, morning sickness and feelings of fainting.
Early pregnancy
symptoms such as mood swings and cramping may begin to manifest.
Bloating should also be expected at this point in time. Blame it to the
progesterone. This hormone slows down your digestion in order to allow
nutrients to enter into your bloodstream. Your constantly changing mood
should also be blamed to hormones. You might have a slight bleeding due
to the implantation of zygote into your uterus.
You might even
notice a little pressure on your stomach but this shouldn't cause you to
worry. It is pretty normal during this stage. Your breasts may become
more tender and appear bigger, and as time passes by, you will notice
significant change in their size. Also, the breast becomes sore, tingly
and fuller. This is due to the surge of hormones such as progesterone
and estrogen in your system.
By this time, your heart should be
beating more rapidly. In fact, you might have an additional 15 beats per
minute. And you feel tired most of the time which causes you to fall
asleep frequently. By the end of the 4th week of your pregnancy, your
baby should be 1/25 inches long which is equivalent to a period (dot).
Appropriate Lifestyle for Pregnant Women
Observing a healthy diet and lifestyle is very important during this
stage. Pregnant women are eating and breathing for two, therefore they
should be careful in choosing the kinds of foods to take. They should
take adequate amount of essential nutrients to optimize their baby's
growth and development.
Limit your intake of softdrinks, teas,
colas and cocoas, and prefer decaffeinated sodas and brews. Pregnant
women are normally prescribed with health supplements during this
period. You need to take plenty of iron, calcium and folic acid. Iron is
best obtained from cereals, pulses, breads, meat and green leafy
vegetables. Folic acid is important in preventing the onset of spina
bifida and other neural tube defects.
Some pregnant are prescribed
with Vitamin C, Vitamin D, zinc, Vitamin B6, Vitamin A, thiamine,
riboflavin, potassium, phosphorus, pantothenic acid, manganese,
magnesium, iodine, copper, chromium and choline.
Oranges for You and Your Baby's Health
Oranges are probably one of the best fruits to eat during this early
stage of pregnancy. Oranges are citrus fruits which provide additional
protection to pregnant women. According to research, taking at least one
orange in a day makes the body less prone to infections. It offers
plenty of vitamin C which provides additional protection and resistance
against diseases such as cancer and osteoporosis.
Furthermore,
oranges are packed with massive amount of Vitamin B6 which is beneficial
during the process of hemoglobin production. In effect, pregnant women
are less likely to suffer from hemoglobin deficiency during this very
crucial stage.
Oranges are also beneficial to the baby. This
citrus fruit contains ample amount of folic acid and Vitamin B which are
beneficial in the baby's brain development. The fruit also contains
high level of potassium and iron which ply vital roles in protecting the
cardiovascular system of the body, especially the heart. Though this
citrus fruit is beneficial to the body, pregnant women should not eat
more than 2-3 regular size oranges, as it can cause stomach acidity,
stomach cramps and heartburn.